SOLIDARITY GREETINGS TO ABDULLH OCALAN

Peace in Kurdistan sends its solidarity greetings to Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdish people, on the occasion of his 69th birthday on 4 April 2018.

Abdullah Ocalan has spent too many of his birthdays in confinement, so that his birthday has become just another day like all others: a day that is not his own, whose freedom has been stolen from him.

Normally a birthday is a time to see friends and family. it is a time to share with all those who are closest to you, to celebrate, reminisce and look to the future. It is an occasion for people to come together, for you to learn how much you are respected, appreciated and loved.

For public figures, a birthday is somewhat different: it is visibly a public event. You receive good wishes and greetings from people you don’t really know, but whom you have touched in some way – people with whom you have communicated, who are influenced or inspired by your actions, ideas and example.

For the Kurdish people, the birthday of their political leader and mentor, Abdullah Ocalan, is a national day, but one that cannot be celebrated ‘normally’, since it cannot be shared in person, because of his confinement and total removal from all contact with them.

He is not even permitted to see his closest family, friends, colleagues or even lawyers.

By his courage and determination, by his leadership and by his ideas, Ocalan has inspired his people. Above all, he has led by his unshakeable belief in the essential justice of his cause. He has inspired the Kurdish people to an awakening of their national consciousness as never before in their long history of struggle against oppression.

Abdullah Ocalan has paid a very hefty price in his loss of personal freedom in this quest to achieve freedom of his people. Even in his isolation he cannot be silenced. His ideas remain a dynamic social force in the world, and live inside everyone who has been inspired by his leadership and example.

His birthday is a time for the Kurdish people to recall and honour what he has already achieved and what will be achieved in the future by the people themselves, guided by his philosophy of humanism, equality and liberation.

Ocalan’s birthday is a time to celebrate the continuing struggle of the Kurds for their freedom and to reaffirm a Kurdish commitment to struggle on until victory has been achieved. This is the only gift that is needed.

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR AFRIN

Life in Afrin

Weekly News Briefing

Jeremy Corbyn issues statement of support for the National Demo

Message from Jeremy Corbyn to Kurdish national demonstration in London:
“I’m sorry not to be able to be with you today, but I send a message of solidarity with today’s demonstration, and with the Kurdish people, under sustained attack across the Middle East.
The conflict in Syria has been the trigger for an onslaught against the Kurdish people, who are defending their autonomy and their rights.
We are watching closely the alarming events that have been unfolding in Turkey in recent weeks, including the killing of civilians and destruction of Kurdish homes.
Any negotiated settlement of the Syrian conflict must include peace and justice for the Kurds, including in Turkey. And the Turkish government needs as a matter of urgency to restart the peace process with the Kurds and respect the rights of all its people.
We call for an end to repression of the Kurds and justice for the Kurdish people throughout the Middle East.”

Destruction and Repression in North Kurdistan

Freedom for Ocalan!

On the 19th anniversary of his kidnap and imprisonment by Turkey, we renew our call for Abdullah Ocalan to be freed as part of a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.